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'Nothing has changed': Continued calls for easing of maternity partner restrictions

Activists want partners to be permitted in maternity units for all stages of labour.

CALLS CONTINUE FOR partner restrictions at maternity units across the country to be loosened, and for all units to follow HSE guidance.

The HSE advises allowing partners to accompany women during labour and childbirth. Partners should also be permitted to attend the 20-week scan and other appointments if deemed necessary. 

This is the case in many maternity units, however some units have stricter restrictions and activists want partners to be allowed in the room during all stages of labour.

Krysia Lynch, chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services – Ireland (AIMS), said the organisation has heard from new parents in recent weeks about the partner restrictions in place. 

“We’ve asked people who have given birth in the past 2-3 weeks to contact us if they want to to tell us their experience,” Lynch told The Journal. 

“We received a couple of hundred responses, and the response is that nothing has changed.”

She said many women are not allowed to have their partners in the room until they are at least four centimetres dilated.

She said a lot of women have emphasised that “early labour is the hardest part for them” because “once they get into established labour, they were able to get into a birth suite and got gas and air and an epidural, whereas in early labour it’s just your own capacity to cope.” 

Last Friday, the government announced a number of reopening measures due to take effect over the coming weeks and months. 

Healthcare was not mentioned during this announcement and Lynch said people contacted her in “absolute disgust that maternity continues not to feature”.

“Many people rightly say that this is the next generation of Irish citizens being born and it’s as if the State doesn’t care,” she said, adding that pregnant women “feel they’ve been put at the bottom of the pile”. 

“Drinking and socialising was featured but their healthcare was not featured… We were hoping that the issue would have been sorted by now.”

In a recent guidance document, the HSE said a partner should “generally be facilitated in accompanying a woman throughout the process of labour and childbirth”. 

“This applies to women with spontaneous or induced labour,” the guidance said. 

A partner should also be permitted at the 20-week scan and “other antenatal appointments or attendances if there is reason to anticipate that the visit is likely to involve communication of particular emotional significance”. 

Parents should generally be allowed to visit an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The guidance explained: “If restrictions on partner visiting, accompanying persons in labour, parents visiting NICU or attending the 20 week scan are considered essential this should be based on a documented risk assessment that is reviewed regularly.

“The risk assessment may consider infrastructure, staffing levels, the current Framework Level and the potential adverse impact of restrictions on patients, infants and their families.” 

The Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said last month that 14 of Ireland’s 19 maternity units were “fully compliant” with national policy.

He said the five non-compliant units “all have at least issues with daily visitation and all five are part of a general hospital, rather than being a standalone maternity unit”. 

Dáil discussion

The issue was raised in the Dáil on Wednesday as part of a private members motion on maternity services put forward by Independent TD Catherine Connolly.

The issue of partner restrictions was mentioned by several TDs, including Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion who said partners should not be “left standing outside in the car park when a woman’s whole world is falling apart” in instances where bad news is received.

“Some have referenced the 20-week anomaly scan as being significant, but I also think that some of the earlier scan appointments are important.” 

She said women can be informed of issues in earlier scans and it “must be ensured that these women can have someone with them” at the appointments. 

Sinn Féin TD Donnachadh Ó Laoghaire spoke about his own experience with partner restrictions last year.

“Just before last Christmas, my partner, Eimear, had an emergency appointment with the early pregnancy unit because she was bleeding,” the TD said. 

I waited outside in the car park, looking up at the window of the early pregnancy unit waiting room. It was as close as I could get. I am glad to say that everything was okay, but we were worried.

“If it had not been okay, Eimear would have had to face that appointment alone. She would have got that bad, devastating, earth-shattering news alone. The situation is still the same today.

“Whatever about a year ago, hospital staff are now vaccinated. Increasingly, pregnant women are vaccinated and many partners will be vaccinated too before long,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell said she has been contacted by parents “who have been damaged as a result” of the maternity restrictions. 

“While golfers are back on the greens and we will be able to drink a pint outside from next week, pregnant women are once again forgotten,” Farrell said. 

“I am blue in the face trying to get an answer to these questions. In University Hospital Galway, partners are only allowed to visit between 7pm and 9pm and only for half an hour in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“This does not go far enough. Fathers are not visitors. They are parents who are as responsible for their child as the mothers and their support and presence during the first days of their child’s life are essential.”

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Nov 8th 2021, 8:55 AM

    ….and prosecuted?

    458
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    Mute D. Memery
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:27 AM

    @Paul Shepherd: the article says they would have to be convicted, so I’d imagine a prosecution would be required to get to that stage.

    46
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    Mute
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    Nov 8th 2021, 11:26 AM

    @Paul Shepherd: They could only punish them once they’ve been prosecuted, so yes obviously.

    27
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    Mute Brian O'Grady
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:00 AM

    Permanent ban on selling tobacco products if caught selling to minors.

    460
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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:01 AM

    What about alcohol being sold to underage kids ? It’s a far more dangerous and toxic drug and can easily kill in minutes through overdose ? Cigarettes are bad but they’re not an immediate concern. And if we’re so keen to keep dangerous drugs away from kids, why do we preserve and protect the black market that has no problem selling untested and unregulated products to anyone of any age ? It makes zero sense and as toxic as they are, Cigarettes should be the least of our concerns when it comes to drugs and children.

    205
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    Mute Mick Dunne
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:21 AM

    @Declan Doherty: so is cigarettes

    22
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:54 AM

    @Declan Doherty: The same laws apply where alcohol is concerned. In fact I’ve never heard of a shop being banned from selling tobacco after being caught selling to minors, but know of at least 3 pubs locally that have been ordered to close for a number of weeks for serving underage people.

    42
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    Mute Pam
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:05 AM

    No, but they should have to pay huge fines. If they’re banned where will elderly locals who smoke go to buy their cigarettes?

    99
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    Mute Contrary Mary
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:14 AM

    @Pam: To another store, where they will buy other things. All the more reason to not sell to minors.

    123
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    Mute Rob Hunt
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    Nov 8th 2021, 12:08 PM

    @Pam: I actually think incurring the wrath of the elderly locals would be at least as much of a deterrent as the financial impact of not being able to sell them. Win win.

    31
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Nov 8th 2021, 7:15 PM

    @Pam: I agree, I don’t see why local adults should be inconvenienced simply because aome staff member failed to ask someone completely different for ID.

    5
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    Mute Serge the llama
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:02 AM

    Heard one in the local shop the other day. Young lad asked for ID for scratch card. Well his mother came in roaring dogs abuse at the cashier for requesting ID when his 18. Why isn’t everyone asked for ID. Pointing at the long line of customers.

    Queues were building up. Everyone was looking because the customer was so loud and obnoxious. Poor cashier went bright red but didn’t back down refused to sell the scratch card and quoted the regulations in an extremely loud voice.

    Requiring a valid photo ID for anyone who is under 21. A physical driver’s license, passport or Garda age card, not the photo of one on a phone that could be photoshopped.

    On a side note most supermarkets ask for ID if someone looks under 25.

    101
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    Mute Seeking Truth
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    Nov 8th 2021, 1:18 PM

    @Serge the llama: I bought a bottle of something recently and they did not even blink an eye or ask for proof of age. A sign that I am well past that age cohort to be asked for ID LOL

    13
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Nov 8th 2021, 5:21 PM

    @Serge the llama: I saw a boy in school uniform ask for cigarettes. He was asked for ID, he didn’t have it. He left and his mother came in roaring about being in a hurry and that it was disgraceful that the shop had asked him for ID and made her get out of her car!

    14
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    Mute DERRY1973
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:24 AM

    5 weeks off the cigarettes today, way too expensive a habit now, mind you I don’t know where all the money I saved went.

    72
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    Mute Padraic McDonagh
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:33 AM

    @DERRY1973: food! Or it least in my case I replaced one bad habit with another.

    25
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    Mute Thomas Armstrong
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    Nov 8th 2021, 2:01 PM

    @DERRY1973: Hope y stay off them. I’m 4 years now but the test is if you like the pub the drink & the cig go hand in hand in the smoking area.

    13
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    Mute James Clifford
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    Nov 8th 2021, 6:10 PM

    @DERRY1973: congratulations and well done

    14
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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:29 PM

    @DERRY1973: All the best, I used to take out the calculator app on the phone every so often and work out the money saved as a bit of a motivator.
    It also motivates when you look back and figure you’ve smoked the price of a new car over the years, no point starting on a second car.

    2
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    Mute Mark Howard
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:20 AM

    Or in other words persecute (yes – persecute) shopkeepers for making the odd mistake instead of the parents of these brats who are roaming the streets causing trouble. How quickly people forget they were singing the praises of retailers during the lockdown. We’re a great country for blaming the wrong person

    90
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    Mute Jo H
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:23 AM

    @Mark Howard: it is a big jump from a teen kid taking up/trying cigarette smoking to them being br*ts who are roaming the streets to cause trouble! Have all the people you know who smoke, or are ex smokers, been that type of person?? For the record, I don’t think shops should have a their licence suspended unless a repeat offender

    34
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    Mute NoPlanetB
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:09 AM

    The way this works is they find some lad who is 6’6″ with a beard who looks 30 but is actually a teenager. They get him to ask for cigarettes in a string of shops at a busy time and when the teenager working behind the counter fails to ask for an ID the shop is nabbed.
    It is a form of entrapment. The only safe approach for shopkeepers is to get the ID from everyone, including the 60 year old granny who smokes the Superkings.

    30
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Nov 8th 2021, 5:19 PM

    @NoPlanetB: the very fact that he looks 30 would be a mitigating factor. I work in the industry, they aren’t trying to trick people. They’ll usually send in an older looking person but in their school uniform or an older person that looks far younger. There is room for a genuine mistake being made within the regulations

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Nov 8th 2021, 11:00 AM

    So, Hayley is having us vote on her own offence/punishment combination?

    Another journal poll fail

    Remember Hayley’s ‘do you prefer rain or sun poll’

    I reckon we should have a poll asking should Hayley be allowed to make polls

    ;-)

    24
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    Mute Rob Hunt
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    Nov 8th 2021, 12:11 PM

    @TomTraubert: Even setting aside that this is a commercial site with an editorial team and a content marketing strategy, it’s a bit nasty having a go the individual author.

    16
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Nov 9th 2021, 11:13 AM

    @Rob Hunt: dial it down a bit there Rob fgs.

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    Mute Mike Dunne
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:28 AM

    I’ll carry on buying mine on the black market.

    23
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    Mute Tracktrack
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    Nov 8th 2021, 12:43 PM

    @Mike Dunne: Very foolish idea. Not only is it breaking the law, but those cigarettes could be counterfeit, have mould or other contamination to make them even more deadly.

    18
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Nov 8th 2021, 4:00 PM

    @Tracktrack: Thats why its easier on smokers to just fly out of the country, bring back a carton or two and pocket the savings. Can you blame them doing that when the prices are so high the black market thrives?

    7
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    Mute Liam Mc Meel
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:52 AM

    I go to the shop on a regular basis for me da with a note asking for John player blue and a lighter as me da can’t walk very far

    19
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:21 AM

    It’s a while since I heard such a ridiculous plan. Retailers should be fined €10,000 and possibly be also imprisoned for supplying a dangerous drug to children.
    A suspension is unbelievable for such a serious offence.

    29
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    Mute Mark Howard
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:43 AM

    @John Mulligan: Sounds like you could do with a smoke yourself . . .

    75
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    Mute Mick Dunne
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:19 AM

    They should be banned for good

    24
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    Mute Ballybough Marcus
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:09 AM

    Common sense says yes.

    13
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    Mute JillyBean
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:38 AM

    I think there should be an award as to which teenagers are most convicing. The award would be a packet of Benson’s finest

    11
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    Mute ed w
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:38 AM

    banned from selling them to minors for a few days or cigarettes for a few days ?

    12
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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Nov 8th 2021, 12:04 PM

    May be it’s about time the purchase of cigarettes should be as restrictive as possible…..e.g. available on prescription from a GP and only purchased from a pharmacy. In that way, the support and advise for giving them up is immediately available. But hey, it’s easy as a non smoker to say this.

    8
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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Nov 8th 2021, 1:03 PM

    Many shops in US won’t sell cigs to customers of any age unless they have some form of ID.

    5
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    Mute ChronicAnxiety
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:43 AM

    These are drugs, treat them as if thay had been dealing grass.

    6
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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Nov 8th 2021, 9:49 AM

    @ChronicAnxiety: Why ? Weed is harmless when compared to cigarettes and alcohol. Alcohol can kill a child in minutes. Neither weed nor cigarettes are going to do them any harm in the short term. Why would you treat them all the same when the risk is radically different.

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    Mute Willie Penwright
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:50 AM

    @ChronicAnxiety: Dealing grass is a monopoly of the the crime lords and so is beyond the reach of this government.

    10
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    Mute Willie Penwright
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    Nov 8th 2021, 10:48 AM

    Great idea, practical and it would work and so cannot be tried.

    3
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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Nov 8th 2021, 5:45 PM

    yes, no and don’t know do not amount to a sufficient number of possible responses. This online opinion poll has no scientific validity.

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    Mute Mikey
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    Nov 8th 2021, 12:36 PM

    No, what harm are they doing.

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    Mute Mick Curran
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    Nov 8th 2021, 6:23 PM

    A few days???
    Permanent ban, followed by prosecution and stiff penalties.

    2
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